Certified Marriage Records

Couples will not automatically receive a copy of their certified marriage record after the wedding unless they request and pay for a certified copy from the County Clerk or County Recorder.

Pre-paying

Some counties, like Los Angeles, allow couples to pre-pay for certified copies of the marriage record when they obtain their marriage license. This is the easiest and most recommended method of obtaining certified copies.

Couples that pre-pay should expect to receive certified copies within 5-10 weeks after the county receives the marriage license.

Paying on the day of the wedding ceremony

Couples that do not pre-pay may have the option (depending on the county) of providing a check payable to the county clerk on the day of the wedding ceremony.

Counties that allow this option provide couples an Application for Marriage Record and Sworn Statement at the time the marriage license is obtained. These documents need to be completed before the wedding ceremony.

The couples’ check will be submitted along with the signed marriage license, completedApplication for Marriage Record, and notarizedSworn Statement when it is returned to the county clerk’s office.

Couples who opt for this option should expect to receive certified copies within 5-10 weeks after the county receives the marriage license.

Paying after the wedding ceremony

Couples that obtain a marriage license in counties that do not allow for pre-payment or allow for providing a check on the day of the ceremony may purchase certified copies of the marriage record directly from the county clerk’s office approximately eight weeks after the county receives the signed marriage license.

It’s been over 10 weeks

If it has been over 10 weeks and you still haven’t received your certified copies, please contact the county in which you obtained your license.

“My husband found Eric after reading about him online. Eric is a super nice guy and seems to really enjoy his job. Not uptight and I got the feeling he can go with the flow of what ever the couple wants. We had a very small ceremony in Malibu and the day was perfect.”